Study reveals variation in rates of diabetes-related amputation

People with diabetes face a much higher risk of lower limb amputation than the general population and amputation rates vary widely across the country, new research shows.

A study in the journal Diabetologia found that some areas perform two amputations per 10,000 people with diabetes, while others perform up to 22 per 10,000 patients.

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The findings also indicate that people with diabetes are 20 times more likely to have an amputation than the general population, highlighting the need for good foot care services for people with the disease.

Researcher William Jeffcoate, from the department of diabetes and endocrinology at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, said: 'Foot disease is very complicated and a single professional hasn't necessarily got the skills to manage every aspect of it.

'That's why I believe that only if you can gather a multi-disciplinary team and make sure that people have rapid access to assessment by such a team, it's only in that way that we think you can provide the best service.'

National charity Diabetes UK has launched a new campaign aimed at preventing amputations among people with diabetes.

It believes around four-fifths of the 6,000 diabetes-related amputations that occur in England each year are preventable.

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